Provincial gov’t: Bohol to remain on lockdown until August 31

FILE PHOTO: Residents continue to observe physical distancing in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (LEO UDTOHAN/INQUIRER VISAYAS)

TAGBILARAN CITY — The provincial government has extended Bohol’s lockdown status for another week amid the continued increase in COVID-19 infections in the province.

The current lockdown, which started on August 6, was supposed to end on August 20.

However, Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap decided to extend it until August 31, taking into consideration the “continuing surge of COVID-19 in the whole country brought about by the threat of new variants of concerns, particularly the Delta variant.”

The suspension of air and sea travel of passengers bound for Bohol will also be extended until August 31.

Exempted from the order are the domestic air and sea travel of cargoes.

The highly transmissible Delta variant, which was first detected in India, was able to infect two persons in Bohol.

Other variants, including one Alpha (B.1.1.7), eight Beta (B.1.351), and 14 Theta (P.3), were also recorded in Bohol.

According to the Bohol Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease, all those infected with the COVID-19 variants have recovered.

Authorities urged residents to get vaccinated and to follow health protocols to stop the spread of the virus.

As of August 17, Bohol has recorded 791 active cases of COVID-19.